It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome all
of you the distinguished delegates and participants to Brunei Darussalam to the First Meeting of the SOMRI Working Group on ASEAN Digital
Broadcasting (WG-ADB);

I
would like to take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome and deep
appreciation to all delegates from ASEAN member states for taking their
valuable time in attending this significant meeting;

I do hope all of you will have a very comfortable and
enjoyable stay in Brunei Darussalam – the Abode of Peace and be able to spend some time to discover the beauty of our
country and observe the real life of Bruneians;

Last year, at the ASEAN Ministers
Responsible for Information (AMRI) meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, the working
mechanisms for Senior Officials Meeting Responsible for Information (SOMRI) was
discussed and the Terms of Reference was been agreed by AMRI.

Three new mechanisms or
working group were established under the auspicious of SOMRI which include this
ADB
Working Group that shall act as the technical working resource group
responsible for the recommendation and implementation of the measures and
initiatives related to digital broadcasting, that will focus on, but not
limited to, the following:

Study, share and recommend the latest development of
digital broadcasting initiatives, regulation and standards;

Coordinate with other sectors concerned on radio
frequency for digital broadcasting;

Exchange views and share best practices on digital
broadcasting strategies;

Monitor the progress of digital broadcasting
industry and its development in ASEAN; and

Mobilise resources to implement projects and
capacity building initiatives.

Just to reiterate for the benefit of this meeting that the establishment
of three Working Groups (WG) underSOMRI, are:

WG on ASEAN Digital Broadcasting (ADB)

WG on Content and Production

WG on Information, Media and Training (including new media)

Brunei Darussalam is
indeed honoured to be the chair for the first Working Group-ASEAN Digital
Broadcasting.

Today, we gather here to
meet and discuss on the Working Group on ADB. I sincerely hope that our two-day
meeting will develop innovative and fruitful ideas for consideration and
implementation in the coming future.

Distinguished delegates,

Digitalisation had brought
significant evolvement and challenges to the broadcasting policy and technology
industry. The development of multi delivery platforms has impacted considerably
on the distributions of contents and information that have become an
opportunity to the broadcasters which may be imperative for this WG to discuss.
The availability of multiple platforms should be regularly utilised to inform
the public and to bridge gaps on the aims of developmental efforts, as well as
to bring them together in the establishment of a strong ASEAN community.

The new media, which
includes smartphones, smart TV, internet, and various media applications, have nevertheless
created some concerns for broadcasters to re-strategize with relevant
authorities and dialogue partners. One good example is the issue of frequency
spectrum re-allocation that may deprive future broadcasting development after
ASO timeline.

Hence, this meeting may be
the relevant platform to address the concerns.

Distinguished delegates,

We are very pleased to
note that since the ADB cooperation initiative started in 2003, every AMS has
established concrete digitalisation roadmap and target ASO timelines within the
year 2015 to 2020. Such strategy will encourage our people to embrace fully the
digitalisation efforts and enjoys its benefits as well as positively impacting
the quality of life and progress of the society.

We are also very pleased
to note that our former ADB Cooperation Initiative has marked significant
achievements which include, among others:

AMRI endorsing the guidelines for ASEAN Digital
Switch-Over serve as a blueprint to aid all Member States in their transition;

The establishment of ASO
timeline between 2015 – 2020 within ASEAN;

The Minimum technical
specifications of DVB-T2 set-top box;
and

The High definition TV
programme production namely ‘Colours of ASEAN’.

Distinguished delegates,

2015 is a very significant
year for ADB as this year marks the start of ASO timeline realisation. This
year and the next five years ahead is definitely a very challenging time for us
to ensure our goal to fully migrate to digital terrestrial television
broadcasting is met. I am pleased to note that in this meeting, every AMS will
continually update each other on respective digital switchover/ analogue
switch-off plan.

Distinguished delegates,

As members of this Working
Group, we share the duty to identify and propose appropriate initiatives and projects
in line with our TOR that would contribute to the ease of disseminating
information and programme production in our broadcasting community.

The fast growing digital technology
and facilities has paved ways to lower the costs of programme production and
more importantly to further foster creativity and innovativeness in digital
production. Thus, the wealth of ideas of our producers and engineers can be nurtured
and encouraged through the availability of such strong technological and sound policy
supports such as capacity building programmes via solid connections with our
sister Working Groups.

Distinguished delegates,

I am also pleased to note
that there will be an open session whereby the industry players shall update
specifically on digital radio broadcasting and audio technology development; and
also to share their experiences and expertise on such subject.

I encouraged all of you to
take this knowledge-enrichment opportunity to further explore on its benefits
and prospects.

I personally believe that
this is a good avenue for all AMS members to explore digital radio broadcasting
as we have achieved much success with digital terrestrial television
broadcasting.

This, digital radio
technology, is one of the quick wins that we can embrace; and also a cheaper
means for broadcasters to recapture our audience and to realise the ASEAN
Communication Master Plan where “ASEAN: A Community of Opportunities.”

I hope that we can continue
to consider inviting other industry players or dialogue partners in the future
meetings to generate and establish, among others, networks and new ideas as
well as discussion on funding supports to mobilise future initiatives and
projects.

Distinguished delegates,

In conclusion, I would like to express my
utmost appreciation and profound thanks to the ASEAN Secretariat and the
Organizing Committee for their hard work to bring this meeting a success and
achieve its objectives.

I wish you all have a
successful time of discussion, engagement and deliberations as well as enjoyable
stay in our capital city - Bandar Seri Begawan.

With the kalimah
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I declare The First Meeting of the SOMRI Working
Group on ASEAN Digital Broadcasting (WG-ADB) open.

DESPITE first making its appearance in the Sultanate during the 1940s, Kuih Mor continues to be a household favourite today as a tea time snack or festive treat particularly during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

Siti Norhafizah Hj Bagol, a final year student at Universiti Brunei Darussalam who researched on Kuih Mor as part of her Brunei Traditional Industry module, said the three-ingredient sweet treat may have existed in Brunei as early as the 1940s when padi was known to have been grown to make different food items.

Over time, the cookie has also become a popular door-gift choice often handed out at Malay weddings or gatherings, said Siti Norhafizah.

Made with flour, oil and granulated sugar which have been ground into a powder, the bite-sized biscuits have a crumbly texture and are coated with powdered sugar.

The age-old technique of making Kuih Mor by hand has however changed over the course of time, with many now opt…

BY COMMAND of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office hereby announces that His Majesty has consented to the transfer and appointment of the following senior officers – Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau and Solicitor General has been transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; and Datin Elinda binti Haji CA Mohamed, Special Senior Duties Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs has been appointed as Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and Director of Anti-Corruption Bureau.